May 2016

Nissan, Tsinghua University in Beijing open joint mobility research center

(May 21, 2016) BEIJING, China — This week marked the opening of the Tsinghua University (Department of Automotive Engineering) - Nissan Joint Research Center for Intelligent Mobility (the Joint Research Center), a collaboration between Nissan and Tsinghua University in Beijing to work on research and development of electric vehicle and autonomous drive technologies for the Chinese market.

Cannibalized 1969 Mustang


A once-vibrant 1969 Ford Mustang has been cannibalized and left to be slowly dissolved into the weeds and scrub bushes. The 1969 edition was the first model to use quad headlamps placed both inside and outside the grille opening. Ford offered a variety of engines in the '69 from the 3.3-liter I6 to the rumbling 429 cubic inch Boss V-8. Nearly 300,000 Mustangs were manufactured in 1969, a steep drop off from the 607,558 built for the peak year of 1966. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

Utah truck wears its retirement well



This 1954 Chevrolet panel truck was spotted in Bluff, Utah, its service as a laundry company delivery vehicle long past. But with a good cleaning and perhaps a little service, it looks as if it could spring back into action.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)

Harold takes the new Buick convertible for a Texas spin

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(May 20, 2016) Harold Gunn of the Automotive Reporter doesn't care how it's pronounced — he calls it as he thinks it should be pronounced — before he gives a concise 90-second description of Buick's all-new convertible, the Cascada.

Apparently Harold is not the only person who likes the neat-looking Cascada, Buick says it's selling faster than it can fill orders and is leading a Buick sales resurgence this year.

Aston Martin unveils Vanquish Zagato Concept

(May 20, 2016) CERNOBBIO, Italy — Aston Martin and Italian design-house Zagato have announced the Vanquish Zagato Concept, the latest creation from their long-standing partnership. The Vanquish Zagato Concept will make its global debut at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, held at Lake Como in Italy this weekend.

The Vanquish Zagato Concept is the fifth car to emerge from a collaboration that stretches back over five decades, pairing Aston Martin's acclaimed sporting, dynamic and material qualities with Zagato's signature design language.

Convertible attracts new Buick customers ahead of three more launches

(May 20, 2016) DETROIT — Shattering expectations has led to three consecutive years of Buick global sales growth, and that momentum is carrying through into 2016. Last month, Buick reached an all-time high in conquest sales, or customers trading in models from competitive brands. Two models — the new Cascada convertible and the popular Encore crossover — have been growing the Buick community the fastest. In 2016 alone, more than 35,000 new customers have switched to the brand.

Second-generation automated Acura RLX revealed in California

(May 19, 2016) TORRANCE, Calif. — Acura has revealed its second generation automated development vehicle in California, a modified version of the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD luxury performance sedan.  The RLX has been fitted with a new suite of radar, Lidar, camera and GPS sensors, complemented by higher performance CPUs and GPUs, and improved cabling, heat management and circuitry. 

These enhancements have been combined with new, more intelligent software algorithms to support more complex testing scenarios.

Infiniti Concept Gran Turismo launches on the PlayStation3 system

(May 19, 2016) HONG KONG — Infiniti lifts the virtual covers off the Infiniti Concept Vision Gran Turismo, a vision of what a high performance Infiniti could look like in the future. It was created through close collaboration with the creators of Gran Turismo, the racing game franchise developed by Polyphony Digital Inc. that has sold more than 72 million copies worldwide.

The Infiniti Concept Vision Gran Turismo will be available for download starting today in Gran Turismo6 (GT6) exclusively on the PlayStation3 system.

FCA recalls nearly 400,000 older model SUVs to replace clockspring

(May 19, 2016) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is voluntarily recalling an estimated 392,464 older-model SUVs in the U.S. to replace their clockspring assemblies and related components.

Located in a vehicle’s steering wheel, a clockspring forms part of the circuit that helps control airbag function. An investigation by FCA US determined excessive exposure to dust and dirt — consistent with extensive off-road driving or driving with a vehicle’s top and/or doors removed — may compromise the clockspring and eventually prevent driver-side airbag deployment in a crash.

History revisited: Walter P. Chrysler Museum reopens

(May 19, 2016) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — “The grille on the 1934 Chrysler Airflow is beautiful to look at, but it sure does rip up my California Car Duster,” said Jim Harp. Harp has been volunteering at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum for seven years. Part of his responsibilities include dusting the more than 60 classic cars housed inside the museum’s historical halls. However, Harp doesn’t just dust; he waxes poetically about the history of the vehicles inside.